Interest In Coal For Fertiliser Industry

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31770, 29 August 1968, Page 12

Interest In Coal For Fertiliser Industry

The possibility of using Waikato, Southland or Taranaki lignite coals to produce hydrogen for the manufacture of nitrogenous fertiliser was greatly interesting a Christchurch chemical engineer, Mr C. Martin, said Mr C. L. Austin at a meeting of the Canterbury Progress League last evening.

Most thoughts on the development of a nitrogenous manure industry for New, Zealand had until now re-i lated to electrolysis of water, but Mr Martin had received information from a German firm that showed the potential of lignite coals. Mr Austin said that considerable interest had been shown in a nitrogenous fertiliser plant, and academics and members of the Depart-: ment of Scientific and Indus-I trial Research had agreed to: make a report within two months. The idea was to bring forward the greatest evidence possible to support a plant and present it to the Government and to the public. The D.S.LR., said Mr Austin, had arranged for a year’s test on five two-acre plots of different soil types in Canterbury, using all types of manures plus nitrogen in small and very large quantities.

uphill fight to get a nitrogenous fertiliser plant. Much money was involved. “There is money in this country,” Mr H. H. Deans said. “It should be devoted to the right purpose. We should not get side-tracked by anybody.”

“They are really taking this matter very, very seriously,” said Mr Austin, Mr Austin said that last week he discussed the matter with the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Taiboys), who would definitely consider the possibility of establishing a plant. In Australia, he said, farmers were subsidised heavily in the use of nitrogenous fertiliser, but Mr Martin’s figures indicated that this should not be necessary in New Zealand. The chairman (Mr P. F. Maples) said it would be an